When is my Yacon ready ?

**maximepaul** · 23-09-2008, 09:03 AM

what is Yacon??? sorry havn't heard of it before

**FionaH** · 23-09-2008, 05:04 PM

Had to go search for this cos Ive never heard of it either! Found this at Hunab Ku Portal for the Immortal, the centre of universal shamanic substances and ethnobotanical supplies.

Description:
The Yacon plant is a tender perennial relative of the Sunflower native to Peru. It is a tall leafy plant with small Sunflower like blooms. In Peru, the Yacon fruit tuber is affectionately known as the diabetic potato. The dried slices of the root tubers are similar in taste to honeydew melons or pears.

Benefits:
Yacon contains a type of sugar (fructooligosaccharide) which is indigestible by humans, it tastes sweet, but passes through without being absorbed. This type of sugar has shown to promote the creation of beneficial bacteria in the colon whilst helping to remove negative bacteria. It is also thought to aid in the absorption of calcium and vitamins into the body.
As the sugar in Yacon cannot be digested, it has no effect on blood sugar levels, making it the perfect sweetener for diabetics. It also has half the calories of Honey, making it perfect for dieting.
Yacon contains potassium and antioxidants.

Use:
Add Yacon Powder to your puddings, smoothies and raw chocolate recipes for a sweet and delicious flavour. It is recommended to eat between 5 and 10 grams per day and to chew thoroughly. Use to promote healthy colon function and to support digestion.

So there ya go!

**BarleySugar** · 23-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Mine is in the garden, only 3 out of the 5 plants grew, but they were crushed in the post. Mine is only around 2 ft tall too with no flowers. If you look on the realseeds website under unusual tubers, their's look much taller and are in flower. It says to treat like dahlias, wait until the first frost cuts down the stems, then lift. From what they say, the smaller topmost tubers are for replanting, and 'hopefully' there will be a storage tuber at the bottom to eat. As I'm in Kent, I'm hoping for another month maybe before the frost comes, so I'll leave mine in for a while.
Ann

**maximepaul** · 23-09-2008, 06:44 PM

what do you use it for/in?

**Woofster** · 23-09-2008, 11:02 PM

Thanks for the advice, BarleySugar. I shall wait until frost gets my plant and then see what lies beneath the soil. Shall post the result.

**maximepaul** · 24-09-2008, 10:55 AM

sorry Fiona H didn't read bottom of your post!!
thanks

**BarleySugar** · 13-11-2008, 04:05 PM

Any news on how people's yacon is doing? I got impatient and lifted on of my plants 2 weeks ago. Very dissapointing, no storage root, or tubers to replant. As is was still in leaf I have replanted in a pot in the greenhouse in the hope something will develop. The other two are still outside, I was considering lifting these at the weekend to see if they are in a similar position. That way they may grow on, rather than getting stopped too soon by the frost.

**Paulottie** · 14-11-2008, 06:44 PM

Tuber, related to sunflower....Sounds like a Jerusalem Artichoke. They certainly seem to blow the cobwebs out your Colon.

**Woofster** · 15-11-2008, 12:34 AM

My yacon finally flowered a few weeks ago - rather insignificant orangey/yellow flowers. It is still in flower, in fact but I think I shall harvest it this weekend as, although it is now in the greenhouse, I don't think it will do much more growing. shall let you know what I find.

**BarleySugar** · 23-11-2008, 01:43 PM

I finally dug my remaining 2 plants up during the week, as the forecast was so horrendous. There was one reasonable sized tuber, and a couple of small ones, but plenty of growing material for next year. OH and myself had one of the small ones between us, and to tell the truth it was pretty disappointing. Yes, it was juicy with a crisp texture, but pretty tastless. The description I had read suggested crisp juicy pears, but it was hard to tell that it was sweet, let alone anything else. It might have been because it was small, so I'm reserving judgement until we try the larger one, when there are more people around. If that tastes the same I probably won't bother with it next year.

**Woofster** · 25-11-2008, 10:38 PM

I have seen a suggestion to use them in a stir fry like water chestnuts to add texture (crunch appeal). I think frost is supposed to make it sweeter.I am going to dig out my plant in the next day or two as it is dying back. (I see I said this about ten days ago - don't seem to have had the time...).

**Woofster** · 28-11-2008, 01:05 AM

Read the third posting on this thread !

**Woofster** · 07-12-2008, 12:23 AM

Well, I have harvested my yacon and I have to say I am pleased with what I have produced. I am hoping I have successfully uploaded a picture. Anyway I shall save a bit to plant next spring and then eat or preserve (by drying) as small chips. Will keep you posted on all this.

Attached Files

Yacon 035.jpg (0, 211 views)

**BarleySugar** · 08-12-2008, 12:02 AM

yours did better than mine, you seem to have a good number of tubers on that one, have you tried it yet?

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